Life and Stuff

As I continue to pat myself on the back following my 4-4 performance in picking the winners of the MLB Division Series, I almost forgot to make my picks for the NLCS and the ALCS. I think both series will be classics. I'm not afraid to go on record and say that I will be very surprised if either series goes less than 6 games. I believe that both series feature teams that are evenly matched for the most part, but at one of the teams has a gap in one part of their makeup that makes it difficult for me to choose them as the series winner. You'll see what I mean as you read on.

NLCS: Diamondbacks and Rockies.
It is almost too hard to pick a winner for this series, both teams have proven that they have a strong and balanced hitting attack with at least one ace pitcher on their staff. Both teams have problems in the pitching department in both their rotations and their bullpens From this perspective, you would most certainly believe that these teams are evenly matched, but Arizona has two things going for them. First, they have a proven dominant closer in Jose Valverde, secondly, they have some field advantage, and the crowd noise at "Chase Field is akin to the first time "The Beates" appeared on Ed Sullivan. Those two intangibles are difference makers in this series.

My pick: Diamondbacks in 6

ALCS: Indians and Red Sox.
Putting my bias aside, this is another series that is too close to call. Both teams have stacked and complete lineups. Both teams have a powerful one-two punch in the power department, and both teams have scrappy players like Dustin Pedroia and Asdrubal Cabrera that do the little things well like sacrifice and steal. Both teams have strong #1 and 2 starters, but the similarities end in the bullpen. The Indians have a great setup man is Rafael Perez, but the Sox have an even better one is Hideki Okijima. The matchup of closers isn't even close. While it is true that Joe Borowski led the American League in saves this year, he blew 8 saves and is extremely hittable. Jonathan Papelbon on the other hand, has nasty stuff and an unhittable splitter when he is on.


My Pick: Red Sox in 6

If you're a Buffalo Bills fan, how do you feel this morning? I know if I were one, I'd feel pretty numb. Think about it, you're seconds away from the upset of the year and yet somehow the Dallas Cowboys found a way to defeat you on a night in which they turned the ball over 6 times. How in the world do you lose a game in which you force a top tier quarterback in the NFL to throw 5 picks and your entire offense looked like they fell victim to the flu? I'll tell you how, when you're a cellar dweller in any sport its usually because one side of the ball cannot take advantage of the chances the other side of the ball creates for them. In this case, the Bills offense could not consistently take advantage of the field position the defense provided them. Because the Cowboy defense was able to keep it close late, Senor Romo was able to work his magic and cut the Dallas deficit to two. On the ensuing kickoff, the Bills special teams unit fell asleep and the Cowboys recovered the onside kick. After a few passing plays, Wade Phillips trotted onto the field his last hope, young kicker Nick Folk. The snap from center was great, the hold was precise, and Folk nailed a 52 yard field goal right through the uprights, but hold on. In a moment of sheer desperation, Bills coach Dick Jauron called time in an effort to ice the kicker and make him lose his concentration. When you're in a zone though, that is mighty hard to do. Nothing fazed young Mr. Folk last evening and he was able to replicate his feat and give the Cowboys the most improbable of victories. Somewhere in heaven, Tom Landry was smiling. The ability of Folk to kick a long field goal for the game not once, but twice, wins him this week's hustle and courage award. That's truly the personification of clutch. Although the other games were not exactly as wild as the spectacle in Buffalo, a lot of weird and unique things happened during week 5.

• Say what you want about the Bears, but Brian Greise was about as cool a a cucumber on the Bears final scoring drive Sunday night. Favre's throw to Driver on the last play of the game was on the money, but it was clear that that McGowan kid wanted the ball more.

• Chris Collinsworth is one closed-minded individual to say that the Patriots and Colts should just play a best four out of seven series to determine the AFC champion. Perhaps no one told him that there are still twelve weeks remaining and anything can happen.

• After watching Kieth Olbermann's report on the Packers on Sunday night I have but one question, how can anyone hate the Packers? They are truly a throwback to a kinder, gentler time in the sports lexicon. In an era in which teams are owned by pompous. greedy owners that make no concessions to the fans, it's nice to no that some small town sensibilities still exist. Where else can you find a team that is publicly owned, and lets its fans book the Stadium for weddings?Perhaps if everyone wasn't so concerned with the big picture and making as much revenue as possible, sports would still thrive in places like Brooklyn and Sheboygan!

• Justin Timberlake was seen in attendance in Green Bay on Sunday night. Apparently all is forgiven with the NFL

• My take on the Trent Green situation is this, Travis Johnson should not have gone for the knee because he could have seriously injured Trent Green. It was a cheap shot, and Johnson should have been tossed and suspended for for taunting an injured man. Because of his negligent ball playing, a man has suffered a concussion. Johnson should be suffering through the wallet for his blatant hit and lack of sincerity for the injured, for shame!
  

• I know a lot of people may get mad at me for not naming Texans kicker Kris Brown as the clutch performer of the week. While it is true that Brown tied an NFL record by booting three field goals of more than 50 yards and lead his team to victory. My rationale in picking Nick Folk over Brown in this, Folk was a rookie kicker who was able to kick a 50 yard field goal in a pressure situation even after Dick Jauron tried to break his concentration by calling a time out. The intangibles in Brown's situations just do not compare and that is why Folk got the slight edge. I will however be the first to admit that anytime someone breaks a record of that caliber, it is pretty impressive.

• What kind of a name is Cleo Lemon for a quarterback, I bet he has a brother named Cleon Lime and a sister named Clara Tangerine.

• You may recall that last week I called Cardinals coach Ken Whisinhunt a lunatic for employing the two quarterback system in the NFL. Apparently the football Gods agree with me because Matt Leinart got hurt on Sunday and that forces Whisinhunt to use Kurt Warner for the next few weeks. Ah the irony!
• Moron of the week goes to the Ram defender who kicked the ball on a third down play that led to a delay of game penalty and a Cardinal touchdown.

• How bad are the Saints right now? A nun was in the stands and even she couldn't work some magic for them. Of course it doesn't help when a sure footed kicker like Olindo Mare misses two kicks in the fourth quarter that would probably have given the Saints a win. I'm telling you, I'm beginning to think that last year was a fluke.

• Once again, a pearl of wisdom from Saints coach Sean Payton who said in his post-game press conference, that his team dropped quite a few footballs and that part of the game is always frustrating. This has been sage advice from the people who brought you duh.

• I'm calling a potential quarterback controversy in KC between Damon Huard and Brody Croyle.

• Did you see some of the throws Byron Leftwhich was unleashing in Tennessee? Who was he trying to hit, an airline pilot?

• Giants coach Tom Coughlin suspended rookie DB Aaron Ross during the first half for undisclosed reasons. Ross then picked off two key passes to help lead the G Men to victory. So I guess you could say that Tom Coughlin was a like a military general, letting his opponent get close and then releasing the bomb!

• You want to know who the home team was in the Jets/Giants game on Sunday? It was actually the Teamsters Union. They held a seance for Jimmy Hoffa in the end zone before the game.

• Detroit is 0-21 lifetime in DC, perhaps they been spending too much time sightseeing and not enough time practicing while there.

• Did you see Chuck Noll on the field before the Steelers/Seahawks game? I just have three words for coach Noll regarding his personal appearance, have a salad.

• The Steelers have outscored their opponents 132-47 so far this season. Since this is the 75th anniversary of the Steeler franchise, perhaps it is time for a new generation of the Steel Curtain defense.

• Tom Brady has thrown 16 TD passes in 5 game this season. At this rate, he would break Peyton Manning's all time record for passes in a season. It's kind of hard to believe that Brady has sort of morphed himself into an offensive force rather than a technical quarterback who just does what it takes to win.

• Coincidentally, Peyton Manning only threw for 253 yards but led his team to a thrashing of the Bucs. Maybe Manning and Brady have swapped identities much like the lame premise in the last 'Garfield" movie.

• How does Trent Dilfer continue to play in the NFL? He's the equivalent of the meek kid who no one wants yet still expresses a wish to play in a schoolyard football game. His celebration after he threw a TD pass to Arnez Battle was the same dance I did when I learned how to properly use the potty.

• All you loudmouth Charger fans out there who think that the team is back, just remember this, The Washington Generals were good enough to win once in a while too.

• Until next week, good night and good football!